Portable field-fence



A. B. & M. VANDEMARK.

F ence.

Patented Sept. 14, 1858.

N. PETERS. Phnlcvlilhognphnr, wuhln ton. v.0.

UNITED snares PATENT OFFICE.

A. B. VANDEMARK AND M. VANDEMARK, OF PHELPS, NEW' YORK.

PORTABLE FIELD-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21.529, dated September 14, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, i-XnCI-nnann B. VAN- DEMARK and l\IADISON VANDEMARK, of Phelps, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing a Portable Fence; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a view of a separate panel. Fig. 2 is a ground view of a panel showing particularly the location and relative position of the battens. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of the fence in which the panels are locked and adjusted as they are ordinarily put up. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same section locked and adjusted reversely.

Our fence is made in separate panels, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, and when put up and adjusted it supports itself and stands self-fastened without the use of posts clamps keys or other appliances.

The panels are made with four or more boards or rails of equal length and of any suitable width and thickness. At one end of the panel the top and bottom rails a Z) Fig. 1 and at the other end the middle rails (I, Fig. 1 project, all more or less depending upon the angle desired.

Two battens or cross pieces 0 f and g, h Fig. 1 are fastened by nails or both transversely to each end of the panels. The extreme ones 0 and 71. for the sake of distinction we denominate locking battens, and the others f and 9 simply end battens. At one end the locking batten c Fig. 1 is fixed to the projecting ends of the top and bottom rails and the end batten f Fig. 1 to all the rails, the outer edge of it flush with the ends of the middle rails. the locking batten h, Fig. 1, is fixed to the ends of the middle rails, and the end batten 9 Fig. 1 to all the rails, the outer edge of it flush with the ends of the top and bottom rails. In respect to each other the locking batten and the end batten contiguous to it are on the same side of the rails, as seen at e, f, Figs. 1 and 2, and at g h, Figs. 1 and 2, at the other end of the panel, but in respect to the ends of the panel, the locking battens and the contingous end battens are on opposite sides of the rails as shown at m and 3 Fig. 2. In other words the lock- At the other end ing batten and the contiguous end batten composing a couple or set are placed on the same side of the rails. but the two sets, one set at one end of the panel is on one side of the rails and the other set at the other end of the panel is on'the other side of the rails as shown at w and 3 Fig. 2.

In every other panel the side of the rails upon which the locking and end battens are placed is changed, that is, standing before one panel, the left hand locking and end battens are seen on the rear side of the rails as at e f, Fig. 3, and the right hand locking and end battens on the front side as at g h, Fig. 3, and standing before another panel the left hand locking and end battens are seen on the front side of the rails as at e f Fig. 3 and the right hand locking and end battens on the rear side of the rails as at g h Fig. 3.

For the purpose of more conveniently adjusting the panels to each other when setting up the fence as it is ordinarily put up, the locking batten attached to the middle rails may be a little shorter than the distance between the top and bottom rails as shown at u Fig. 3 in which case the locking batten will enter between the battens of the opposite end of a corresponding panel without raising either panel from a horizontal position, but when the panels are locked reversedly as shown in Fig. 4 then for the purpose of having this locking batten bear against the top and bottom rails as at o and w Fig. 4 it may and should be made long enough to lap upon or reach across the top and bottom rails as shown at 72, Fig. 1, and 'u w, Fig. 4.

To strengthen the panel a batten is put across the middle of it and fastened to all the rails as shown at Z, Fig. 1.

The fence rests ordinarily on the lower ends of the battens, which ends are made to extend as far below the bottom rail as this rail is required to be above the ground.

The panels are adjusted to each other and the fence set up by putting that end of the panel at which the locking batten is fastened to the middle rails into the space between the two battens at the opposite end of an other panel, and then swinging it around in the direction tending to bring the two into line, until the rails and battens of the re spective panels bear tightly against each other, and if the panels be so put together as to bring the locking battens thereof into contact or close eontiguity, which is the usual mode of putting up the fence, then a lock is formed such as is shown at A Fig. 3, but if they be put together, so as to bring the end battens f, 9, Fig. 4, into contactwhich is the case When the fence needs to be crooked or curvedthen a lock is formed such as is shown at B Fig. 4. This latter mode of putting up the fence by simply reversing the side into Which the locking batten is thrust results from the peculiar manner of constructing the panel above described and has been found of great advantage in fencing stocks and small yards, and in turning short curves in any line of fence.

By either of the modes of locking described every corner becomes self fastened and the fence stands firmly.

Our fence is designed for a Worm or zig zag one but the panels may be put into a straight line and held by temporary posts or 20 other appliances.

What We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The placing the locking batten h on the I same side of the rails With the end batten g 25 

